I.N.S.P.I.R.E.D.
Christine Kim Crandall
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this article is to deliver to the world a new message: “you are enough.” You are worthy. You are a miracle. When you get that you are a miracle, you will step into your greatness and contribute to making a difference in the world. In that moment, the world is transformed because of you and your miraculous contribution.
Many times, we go through life having conversations about what it is to have a life that is worth living; a life that is extraordinary; a life that we can call “a life of our dreams”. We often do what we are told, or often times we do the opposite. We do what we think is best for us or what other people think is best for us. We grow up, work really hard, and strive to seek for that perfect person to be with. If we are lucky, we end up with the perfect job, the perfect mate, the perfect house, and the perfect family, but yet, we are left feeling empty because we ask ourselves: is this it? Or, we don’t have the perfect whatever, and we are always chasing that perfect something; “the ideal”. Life then seems “not enough”. We struggle to make ends meet--paycheck by paycheck--so we can live a comfortable life. But, it never seems to measure up. It is like being in the rat race, the human race, the race that keeps on going, and we wonder when it will ever end. We find ourselves in search of something: happiness, peace, love, joy, money, power, or a better way to live. Or simply put it, we are always surviving and always trying to make something or someone better. If it is not with them, then it is with us. We fix ourselves until we can say we are content. But, it is never enough. It is like striving to obtain unimaginable ideals. Then we die, and then, what? After a lifetime of striving or surviving to conform or to meet unreachable standards outside of ourselves, we are still left wanting more.
Well, let’s implement a new conversation, shall we? By putting into effect a new conversation to transform the “old world of surviving” to the “new world of thriving”, we can step out of the vicious circle called “it is never enough”. What if we have conversations such as “we are enough or it is enough,” “we are worthy,” “we are a gift”? What would it be like to have those conversations? Would our actions be different? Would we still be chasing an illusion of the perfect utopia? Or, would we simply be fulfilled exactly where we are at and where we are not? What if we have already arrived and there is nowhere to go? What if we have everything we ever needed or wanted? And even if we don’t deserve it, it doesn’t matter. What if we are already enough and there isn’t anything to fix about us and others? What if we give ourselves compassion or grace to love ourselves and the permission to be ourselves?
The purpose of this article is to deliver to the world a new message: “you are enough”. You were created for something magnificent. You are worthy. You are a miracle. The intention is to leave you embracing your own humanity and the knowledge that you are a gift to the world. And in that moment of self-discovery, you will know who you are: a miracle worker. You will leave footprints onto the hearts of those you interact with, touch, and contribute to. The world will then know your legacy. So, are you ready to create a miraculous life? Are you ready to have new conversations that make a difference in your life and others? Are you ready to step into your greatness and engage the world with a new reality? Are you willing to transform the world by engaging yourself with a new set of conversations?
EIGHT PRACTICES TO BEING “I.N.S.P.I.R.E.D.”
There are eight practices that you can implement into your life that will keep you inspired and on the journey to transforming your conversations. These practices are acronyms for being INSPIRED. When you are inspired, you are in touch with your human spirit. These practices will serve as your guide to support you in realizing your true self; the true self that lies beneath the old conversations of “I am not enough” or “I am not worthy”. The purpose of these practices is to awaken your human spirit; the human spirit that calls you into action and has you create miraculous results for others and yourself. This human spirit is waiting to be expressed in the world, and all you have to do is let it out: "If I don't manage to fly, someone else will. The spirit wants only that there be flying. And for who happens to do it, in that he has only a passing interest" (Rilke, n.d.).
The human spirit lies suppressed beneath the rubble of the vicious circle of “wanting to be more” or “I am not enough”. When we start to have new conversations that interpret the “status quo,” we allow the human spirit to emerge.I: Intention
The first practice out of the eight practices to be Inspired is intention. Every day, create an intention of what you want for yourself and your life. Speak it, write it, share it, and visualize it. When you are clear on what it is that you want, you allow the universe to be your co-creator and manifest that intention into reality. It is not wishful thinking. It is an intention that is clear in the world. When you create the intention, you then create milestones to fulfilling it. It is like planning for a wedding. Create what kind of wedding you would like to have, speak it, write it down, and share it with the people around you so you could have others support you, and then visualize that day being fulfilled. Once you have that in place, you create milestones leading up to that fulfillment. Milestones can be actions, accomplishments, goals, or steps into fulfilling that intention.
Speak your intention. You must tell the universe what you want. You declare or announce that this is what you are committed to fulfilling.
Write down what your intention is. If you are creating a business, write it down into your business plan. Post up your intention so you could see it every day.
Share your intention. Let people in your environment, community, or society know what you are up to. This is the best way to attract people to be your resources in fulfilling on your intention. The more you share¸ the more real it is for you and others.
Visualize your intention. See it in your head what it looks like for that intention to be fulfilled. What you need to do is see yourself in the future with that intention being fulfilling. What are the body sensations that go with that fulfillment? Who is there? How are you being? You can create a visual artwork or presentation of your intention being fulfilled, as if it has already happened, and you have a picture to go with it. Post it so you can see it.
Creating intentions allow you to create your life rather than let life happens to you.
N: Nothing
The second practice to being iNspired is nothing. Nothing is crucial in creating miracles. You will start from a blank canvas to create. You need nothing to create something. Nothing is important because you are letting go of the past; your old conversations of the past. Letting go does not mean you have to forget where you come from, your background, or the experiences you have gone through, or even what you have learned. It means you don’t have to have those conversations run you. Letting go of the past allows you to have the power to create your life and intentions in such a way that is freeing. It frees you up to choose powerfully rather than having the past dictates your decisions. Here is a Zen story of wisdom to demonstrate nothing:
Nan-in, a Japanese master during the Meiji era (1868-1912), received a university professor who came to inquire about Zen.
Nan-in served tea. He poured his visitor's cup full, and then kept on pouring.
The professor watched the overflow until he no longer could restrain himself. "It is overfull. No more will go in!"
"Like this cup," Nan-in said, "you are full of your own opinions and speculations. How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup?” ("Avani Mehta", n.d.).
How do you let go of the past? First, you must acknowledge you have a past. Notice it when you get upset or triggered by something or someone; this is the first indication that you are run by the past. You don’t necessarily have to process yourself to get to the source of it, you can just be aware that the past is running you. In that moment, have a new conversation.
For example, you really want to create a website to share with people what you are up to, maybe a new business or product, etc. You start to have conversations that you are “not good enough,” you are “not technically savvy,” and so forth. Those conversations are past-based conversations. They imprison your human spirit and leave you stagnant, keep you exactly where you are at, no action, no growth, and no progress. Now, noticing that is a great accomplishment. It is because you are being mindful of your conversations and not letting them run wild. Often times, we say these things about ourselves, and even, tell other people about ourselves as if they are the truth. When we keep these past-based conversations alive with others, and ourselves, we keep ourselves in the vicious circle. What to do? Stop having these conversations! We will then get to nothing. Nothing to say is a perfect place. If there is nothing to say, then what is there to say that will not keep us small and stagnant? We say something new about us. For example, we start to say something like this: “I am working on improving on my technical skills.” This conversation will open up new possibilities. We invite and allow others to offer assistance and support. Having small conversations about ourselves keeps us in the past and traps us in the past and binds our power. It keeps the past in place, and we cannot move from the old world to the new world. Marianne Williamson’s (2011) poem summarizes it really well:
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, handsome, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us. It is not just in some; it is in everyone. And, as we let our own light shine, we consciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our fear, our presence automatically liberates others.
Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us. It is not just in some; it is in everyone. And, as we let our own light shine, we consciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our fear, our presence automatically liberates others.
So, start from nothing and create new conversations and share your new conversations with others.
S: Spirit
The third practice to being inSpired is spirit. Being in touch with your spirit creates you to be alive, energized, and free to be regardless of the circumstances. There is a true self that is within you that calls you to action, calls you to thrive as a human being. It is your true SELF that yearns to be released into the world. We have glimpses of it when we watch a sunset, witness the miracle of childbirth, are present to the moment of utter bliss, or when we experience the love of the people dearest to us. It is that moment that we are in touch with our spirit—our true essence. What if we don’t have to wait for those moments to connect with our spirit? What if we have at every moment the capacity and the ability to access our spirit? Well, you do. You have the capability as a miracle worker to call forth your true self and displace those conversations of “I am not enough,” “I am not worthy,” or “there is something wrong with me.” What if you could put something new in place of your suffering of unworthiness? Wouldn’t life look brighter, manageable, and miraculous?
Ben Okri (2011) wrote that we are more than our suffering: “The most authentic thing about us is our capacity to create, to overcome, to endure, to transform, to love and to be greater than our suffering.” This does not mean you do not have to feel sad, angry, alone, fearful, or depressed. It just means you have those feelings and those feelings do not have to define your actions or your life. You get to choose at each moment to be alive and free from those conversations that hold you back from living a life you truly were designed to live—a miraculous life.
One of the things you can put in place to be in touch with your spirit is do what you love or what you’re passionate about. If you love golfing, camping, meditating, gardening, knitting, bowling, being of service to others, or even, eating that sweet chocolate cake, whatever makes you become alive, go for it. There is a seed in each of us that is waiting to be watered. Water your seed of passion.
P: Purpose
This leads to the fourth practice of being insPired—purpose.
Purpose is your calling in the world. Purpose is what you stand for; the ground your spirit stands on. Your purpose defines the context for you to live into a new future. When you have created purpose you are living a life that has fulfillment and creation. It is a vision that you see you could live into. What is your vision in the world? What calls to you? What would you be willing to give your life for? Is it creating the most beautiful piece of art to share with the world, or being the best parent you can be, or build schools for children across the world, end world hunger, or is it to be present and involved with your family? Whatever your purpose is, create it, take actions to accomplish it, and live inside of it.
When you nurture what you love and take actions toward fulfilling your purpose, you become alive, happier, freer, energized, and peaceful. You will be someone who is more enjoyable to be with, easier to talk to, and is more open to what is possible in the world. You would not be someone who is too distracted with your small inner conversations that hold you back in life. You will be someone who is free to be; this is called “the emancipation of the human spirit”. The emancipation of the human spirit calls you to be fully self-expressed, powerful in your communication, and glowing with joy. That is why when someone who is joyful and content walks in a room, you know it. This person carries an invisible energy that emanates into the space of the room. It is the human spirit that walks in the room. People with such a high caliber of energy have the power to create miracles in the world: Mother Teresa, Mahatma Gandhi, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. These people engaged themselves in a set of new conversations and created new realities in the world, which we celebrate today. These global transformers were in touch with their spirit and lived a life of purpose.
I: Integrity
The fifth practice of being inspIred is integrity. Werner Erhard defines integrity as “honoring one’s word”. Since we only have our word when creating a new reality, it is essential to have a powerful relationship to our word. We can’t always keep our agreements with people, but we can always communicate when we are about to break the agreements. For example, you promise to meet your friend for dinner at a particular time. You are about to run late. Ordinarily, you might just show up late and apologize for running late. Then, that incident leads to another and another. Pretty soon, people in your circle talk about you as you are “someone who is always running late”. It then becomes business as usual, and you start to have conversations that you are a “not-on -time” person. And finally, that is all they expect of you “to show up late”. That is another excuse for you to be “not enough”. The vicious circle kicks in, and you are right back at “I am not good enough” or “there is something wrong with me”. What if you just acknowledge you were late and see that your tardiness does not work for you and others? What if you take responsibility and put a structure in place to have you show up on time or earlier? You will then begin to have a new conversation about yourself rather than the conversation that keeps you “being late” and out of integrity.
Another level of conversation about integrity is workability. Integrity is a foundation for workability; workability is the foundation for performance: integrity “provides an unambiguous and actionable access to the opportunity for superior performance and competitive advantage at both the individual and organizational level” (Abstract by Werner Erhard, http:ssrn.com/abstract=920625). If you are someone who is committed to transforming the “old world of surviving” to the “new world of thriving,” you will elevate your level of integrity so that workability is in existence for the areas you are working on. Areas that matter to you could be within your family, your relationships, your finances, your wellbeing, your business, your career, or any area that you are committed to have it work. Bring integrity to it, and you will find that it will work.
R: Request
The sixth practice to being inspiRed is request. Learning how to make powerful requests with the people in your life will have you create miracles in life. Having an extraordinary life requires you to tap into your resources and to allow them to contribute to you and your endeavors. If you are having disempowering conversations about yourself, you are unable to have powerful conversations with the people in your life. When you are left with “I don’t deserve it” or “I am not worthy,” you are unable to make powerful requests of people. For example, you want a raise at your job. If you have conversations that you are not enough, your boss will hear that in your communication and most likely not grant you that raise or promotion. If you are working on a project and have conversations that there is something wrong with you, who would want to be on your team?
In order to make powerful requests of people, you must first give up those past-based conversations that run you in the background. Then, you create a connection with this person. Do you have sufficient rapport with this person to make a powerful request? Do you have any broken agreements with this person that are in the way of them seeing you as someone who is “worthy” or “deserving”? If you lack integrity with this person, the first thing to do is have a conversation with this person to acknowledge the broken agreement. Broken agreements take up space in relationships. The people cannot see you as someone who is trustworthy or reliable. You must get to nothing. Getting to nothing requires you to be in communication with the person you have broken agreements with. When that is addressed, you can powerfully make the request.
What if they say “no”? What is powerful about making request is that you don’t have to be attached to the outcome. When you are attached to the outcome there is no real power. If the outcome is a “yes,” create a structure with them to having that request fulfilled, such as by when, how, and what support do they need. You are 100% responsible for the fulfillment of that request. For example, you are the project manager for a project. You request your team members to fulfill a particular task. Ask them by when they are able to complete it, what structure are they putting in place to that fulfillment, and check in if they need any support. It is important that you follow up with this request; otherwise it will fall by the wayside. Do not assume things are managed. You are 100% responsible for having that managed or supporting someone to manage that.
On the flip side of making a request, be someone who others can make requests of. Be open to making promises. If you are unwilling to make promises, you are unwilling to make requests of others. Werner Erhard (n.d.) distinguishes making promises very powerfully here:
A promise has real power. A promise made from the stand
that who you are is your word, engages you as participant. You
cease to be a spectator, and your words become actions that
actually impact the world. With a promise you create a condition
that supports your commitment rather than your moods. When
motivational dialog comes up about your preference versus your
commitments, and you disregard the dialog in favor of doing
what you said you would do solely because you said so, you
distinguish yourself from your psychology. In that moment you
are your word as an action, rather than only as an idea you have.
In that moment the promise becomes who you are rather than
something you said; and your relationship to the world shifts.
You find yourself producing results that seem discontinuous and
unpredictable from the point of view of the spectator. The
experience is one of joy, fearlessness, irrepressible energy and
satisfaction.
With the commitment to creating a new reality in the world with a new set of conversations, the miracles lie with making promises and requests.
E: Empowerment
The second to the last practice to being inspirEd is empowerment. Empowerment is having power in your life. When you are empowered there isn’t anything you cannot do or say. To be empowered by your purpose, you are free to take actions toward the fulfillment of your intentions. The first sign that you are not empowered is when you are no longer in touch with your spirit. Your spirit gives you power. When you honor your word, you are empowered. You are empowered to create a life of your design. You are empowered to shift your old past-based conversations to new self-generated conversations.
As human beings, we are not always empowered. We get caught up in everyday mundane circumstances, and we react automatically to our emotions. So how do we deal with such reactions? We notice them. When we notice we are reacting, we become aware rather than mindlessly reacting. In that moment of realization, we can choose. Jim Rohn once said, “It is not what happens that determines the major part of your future. What happens, happens to us all. It is what you do about what happens that counts.”
So what do we do when we are disempowered? 1) Get in communication. Set up a structure to call someone who listens to you as your new conversations and not your old past-based ones. 2) Create a structure that keeps you empowered. You can create your day with powerful conversations that set your day in motion, and then share that creation with someone or a group of people via email or phone conference. 3) Surround yourself with positive and inspiring things (posters, quotes, pictures, art presentation, listening and watching empowering things, etc.) that remind you of the new conversations that you are embarking. 4) Create an environment that empowers you by sharing and befriending people who are having the same conversations as you.
When you are empowered, you are in touch with your spirit, your spirit keeps you on your purpose, and you are then clear to take actions toward fulfilling your intentions and make promises and requests. You live a life that you manage rather than having a life that manages you.
D: Dream
Finally, we have come to our last practice to being inspireD—dream. Dream is best described by the man who had a dream of his own: “I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.’” Martin Luther King Jr. was a perfect example of a man who had a dream and he set out to fulfilling his dream. He knew that there were old past-based conversations in the world, and he was committed to transforming those conversations. Because of his stand, his dream, today, we experience the results of his commitment to creating a new reality and engaging the world with his purpose.
Our dreams give us a purpose in life. We are no longer spectators sitting on the sidelines, we become someone who is committed and interested in the outcome of this world. If it is not with us, then who shall it be? If we are not the ones to dream, whether small or big, then whose hands do we leave this planet for? What shall become of this world if we just watch it turn and pass by as another leaf in the wind? So, if you are committed to being INSPIRED, dream. Dream big, small, great, little, just dream.
CONCLUSION
Now that you are reminded that “you are enough” and you were created as a miracle worker, what you are going to do with yourself? Anything! You can create anything. The past-based conversations are no longer in the way. You now can create any new conversations that have you shift the world in a way that creates a life that is worth celebrating. We will eventually leave this world. And if you are enough, how would you like to leave this world, a better place than you found it or simply the “status quo”? The answer is up to you. Global transformation is up to you. You either step into your greatness, or you don’t. Either way, it is valid. The quality of your life and the world is in your hands. You either let it drift in the wind, or you actively ride on the waves of transformation. And when in doubt, remember this, “You must be the change you want to see in the world” (Gandhi, 2011). As you embark on this journey, we called “miraculous life,” remember to be I.N.S.P.I.R.E.D
REFERENCES
Avani mehta. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.avani-mehta.com/2008/07/11/is-your-cup-empty-a-zen-koan/
Erhard, W. (n.d.). Accountability. Retrieved from http://www.thedragonscave.org/archives/tdc/est/text_files/erhard_quotes2.txt
Gandhi, M. (2011). Quote DB. Retrieved from http://www.quotedb.com/quotes/2050
Okri, B. (2011). Reasons to go on living. Retrieved from http://www.thereasons.ca/hope.php
Rilke, R.M. (n.d.). Quotes, sources and comments. Retrieved from http://speelpenning.com/quotes.htm
Williamson, M. (2011). Spirituality & alternative healing. Retrieved from http://skdesigns.com/internet/articles/quotes/williamson/our_deepest_fear/
